2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a cohesive design approach, reminiscent of Ford's historical branding strategy. It shared a familial resemblance with other Ford SUVs, characterized by sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages. The Explorer's exterior varied with trim levels, offering options like black or chrome grilles, and its six trims ranged from the base model to the luxurious Platinum. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating, with the base model featuring cloth upholstery. The dashboard was clean and user-friendly, dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that maximized storage space. The XLT trim was particularly popular, offering enhanced features like a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic design, with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges, making it unmistakable on the road. The Wrangler's trims, including the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, offered various styling options like painted or exposed fenders and different top configurations. The Wrangler's interior was functional, with upright seating and limited legroom, emphasizing its rugged charm over comfort. The Rubicon 392 stood out with its Hemi V8 engine and off-road enhancements, including a raised hood and dual-mode performance exhaust. The Wrangler's cabin featured practical elements like drain plugs and effective cargo nets, with cargo space ranging from 31.7 to 72.4 cubic feet.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, offered a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed competitors like the Kia Telluride's V6. The Explorer's 10-speed automatic transmission was standard across all trims. The Limited Hybrid trim increased power to 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The sport-oriented Explorer ST offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, providing the most engaging driving experience. The Explorer excelled in towing, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and the powerful Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with a choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler's 4WD systems, including Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, catered to various off-roading needs. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, transforming the Wrangler into an off-road powerhouse. It featured enhanced suspension, brakes, and a dual-mode performance exhaust.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of second-row legroom, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Kia Telluride. The Explorer boasted 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use, expanding to 81 cubic feet with seats folded, though this was less than some rivals.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top and the Freedom hardtop. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, combining convenience with the open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with seats folded, though wheel-wells and roll-bars limited larger item storage.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, offering features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included USB ports and 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's base Sport trim featured a basic 5-inch screen, with a 7-inch Uconnect screen available on higher trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen offered crisp graphics and intuitive controls. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled in the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests. It offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims included additional features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional safety features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. It included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. However, it lacked some standard safety features found in other vehicles.